Shin Jil (New Years)

So given that it is almost May, I figure it is probably about time to write about New Years.  Christmas is not really celebrated in Mongolia, but the Santa symbol is mixed in with New years a little bit.  There are also Christmas trees that are put up and decorated all around towns, but they are not called Christmas trees, they are called new year trees. 

School Concert

At my school, the students put on a small concert for parents and teachers, that included lots of dancing, students playing xylophones made out of rocks, and of course old man new year.  There was also a clown and a kid clown that walked around heckling people and telling them when to clap.  It was pretty fun to watch. The kindergartners were the first to preform, and spent the rest of the concert sitting on the edge of the 'stage.'  They would often stand up and start trying t mimic the current performers who were preforming, and the clown had to come over and bop them on the head.  It was hilarious.  

New Year’s Work Party

Also, around New Year’s most every work organization has a new year’s party.  My school rented out a  fancy club, and we all met there in the fanciest attire.  Like real fancy.  Prom fancy.  Luckily enough, I packed at least one dress to bring with me.  After I had finished getting ready, and was waiting on a ride to the club, the neighbor girl popped in my ger to say hello, and told me I was not fancy enough.  So, literally, in 5 minutes, she had run to the store, purchased a ton of glitter, she re-painted my nails with fancier glitter polish, she attempted to curl my hair with a straighter, put other sticker things in my hair, tried to convince me to wear make-up, and then covered me with that ton of glitter she just bought. 

So maybe at this point, you may or may not be wondering, hmmm, it’s -30 outside, if everyone is dressed like they are going to prom, how are they going to get to the party venue, not wearing boots and 8 pairs of pants?!  Well, folks, I am here in Mongolia, to answer just such questions.  Everyone just changes wears layers, and then changes/strips the layers when they get there.  Much like the school locker room, this changing room with be co-ed, but no one cares, and just undresses anyway.  To note, this room will be tiny and closet like, but there will still be 38 people in there changing at once.

Once seated at a table, I was greeted and covered with yet more glitter.  When new people arrive, they greet every single person and wish them luck in the upcoming year. All the tables were covered with food and candy and fruit, and most importantly booze. Our party was mixed with performances, a karaoke competition, a slideshow of the past year, and many many vodka toasts.  Awards were also given out to teachers, and father time? Santa? Made a farewell appearance, and we wished his journey well.  Afterwards, a dance party broke out with formal waltz dances mixed in with some macarana songs. We eventually ate some cake, and my table only had one fork for all 10 people to share…and share we did in typical Mongol fashion. I was quite tipsy before the night ended at roughly 10 30pm. 

fancy english teachers

prom dress central

all the empties

no utensils needed

at some point someone took my camera, this is one of many similar pictures I found later.

Actual New Years

For actual New Year’s, I spent the evening with my site mates.  Even though my work party was 5 days prior, and I had not touched glitter since, I was still covered in it.  We drank and played games in the early evening, before visiting a Mongolian home to spend part of the holiday Mongol style.  For New Years, people join with their family and eat buuz (meat dumplings).  At the particular home we visited, there was plenty of potato salad and boiled horse meat to also eat.  There was also a plate of fruit, which someone had given to the hosting family, which included a pineapple.  Everyone stared at the pineapple all night, knowing that it was a fancy fruit, but not quite knowing how to eat it.  After some time, my sitemate Joe jumped right in and volunteered to cut it, so we could all take delight in eating a fresh pineapple in Mongolia. 

We went back to my sitemates ger for the actual ringing in of the New Year, taking a nice detour to the town square to see some people gathered together around the ice rink.  When the clock stuck midnight, we toasted to good fortune, and went outside to hoot and holler.  We yelled out in English, and others yelled back in celebration, as a few fireworks crackled over our heads.